This piece is part of our Witnessing series, which shares pieces from Israeli authors and authors in Israel, as well as the experiences of Jewish writers around the globe in the aftermath of October 7th.
It is critical to understand history not just through the books that will be written later, but also through the first-hand testimonies and real-time accounting of events as they occur. At Jewish Book Council, we understand the value of these written testimonials and of sharing these individual experiences. It’s more important now than ever to give space to these voices and narratives.
Underground
for Claudine
“If you’re a woman wearing a wig
or a man wearing those strings
around your waist, we’re coming
for you!” a man screams on the subway
platform. He marches up and down
underground hunting for a Jew
or two to shriek this to,
a mom wearing a sheitel,
a Rebbe in tzitzit.
My heart races
like a runaway train.
My breath is trapped
in the tunnel of my throat.
My hands shake and sweat,
my eyes fill and spill.
I am frightened to death
hearing somebody
tell me this happened to them
so far away and close to home.
The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author, based on their observations and experiences.
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Lesléa Newman has created 85 books for readers of all ages including the memoirs-in-verse, I Carry My Mother and I Wish My Father; the novel-in-verse, October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard; the short story collection, A Letter to Harvey Milk, and the children’s books, The Babka Sisters; Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale With A Tail; Ketzel, The Cat Who Composed; and Joyful Song: A Naming Story. Her literary award include two National Jewish Book Awards, the Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award, a National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship, and the Massachusetts Book Award. From 2008 — 2010, she served as the poet laureate of Northampton, MA.